Here are my predictions for tomorrow’s Golden Globes, in the major Movies and Television categories. Glaring omissions include Deadwood, Matthew Fox and Michael Emerson (Lost), and Matt Damon (who deserved to be nominated far more than Mark Wahlberg in The Departed).

Before I get to some quick movie reviews, here is an update from my last blog.

And I still don’t have any Sundance tickets. But I will be in the Wait List line in Park City ugly early on Friday morning, with bells on.

DREAMGIRLS

First of all, Jennifer Hudson is the best thing about this movie. She acts and sings circles around Beyonce, and her performance gave me chills. I love Kelly Clarkson, but Hudson is clearly the most talented artist to emerge from the American Idol experience. The film ran long yet felt rushed; it was obvious when new songs were interjected, which disrupted the overall pace and feel. Eddie Murphy was surprisingly good in an obvious art-imitating-life role as a hot star whose stock has fallen precipitously over the years. To sum up – it was enjoyable but underwhelming outside of Hudson’s performance. I understand the hype, and have no doubt it will garner a Best Picture nomination (although Hudson deserves an acting nod more than anything). But I’ll take Chicago or Moulin Rouge any day over this one.

THE HOLIDAY

I love Kate Winslet, so seeing her play a contemporary woman with her normal British accent was a refreshing change. The casting of Jack Black as a romantic lead was an unusual choice, but it worked and it was the first time I’ve ever found him even remotely charming. I’m not a Jude Law or Cameron Diaz fan, but they were tolerable because their roles seem tailored to their strengths: lingering smiles, impossibly perfect hair, physical comedy and flirty dialogue between two people who regularly grace the pages of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful. Guys, this isn’t a chick flick outright; rent it with your wives, girlfriends or boyfriends, and you might be pleasantly surprised. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give, What Women Want).

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

I like Will Smith. Always have. Put simply, this film is the perfect rental. The story and Smith are compelling, and this feel-good movie will likely inspire tears from men and women of all ages.

1. I helped throw a baby shower at work and the gift I ordered on behalf of everyone didn’t arrive until after the shower. Oh, and the cake I ordered said ‘Happy Birthday’ instead of ‘Congratulations.’

2. I waited patiently during my allotted half hour time slot both online and on the phone to try to get tickets to any Sundance films, but the website crashed repeatedly and I was left on hold for an hour. If you need me next weekend, I’ll be the one standing outside in 20 degree weather in front of the theaters all day, hoping that someone has single tickets to spare. While attempting to stave off the inevitable frozen ears and toes with entirely too many cups of hot coffee, I will take mental notes and try to blog each night about my Sundance experiences (since I may not be able to provide any actual movie reviews).

3. After filling up my car with gas tonight, I drove off with the gas tank door ajar and the cap still atop my roof. Now the cap is on the side of the freeway somewhere. I realized this after I’d arrived back home. Dumbass.

It’s just not my day.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take the pity party offline. I shall return with reviews ofDreamgirls,The Pursuit of Happyness and a belated word or two about The Holiday.

It’s my birthday and I’ll blog if I want to. Or however the song goes.

I am tired (and a tad tipsy, truth be told), so this will be short and sweet.

Much to my surprise and great joy, I arrived home to a wrapped gift that looked suspiciously like a DVD box set. The new Superman Ultimate Collector’s Edition box set. It has topped my Amazon Wish List for months now, because it includes all of the movies in the franchise including Superman Returns, plus the new Richard Donner cut of Superman II and 20 hours of bonus features! The thing is a beast; 14 DVDs safely housed in a silver tin with the unmistakable S logo embossed on the cover. And I am in heaven.

Yesterday I saw Little Children, which is easily one of my favorite new films of the last few years. But before I get to the actual review, I wanted to provide an image to accompany the article; my first blog photo! Ok, so I’m about 5 years behind the curve when it comes to blog technology and style, but one of the changes I’m instituting on my blog in 2007 is the addition of photos.

When actor Patrick Wilson first appeared on screen in Little Children, here is the visual that popped into the invisible bubble above my head:

This is how my brain operates; almost everyone has a celebrity look-a-like, and I spend entirely too much time contemplating just that.

Anyway, back to the movie review.

I not only loved this film, I was haunted by it. There are some serious and interesting moral dilemmas that unfold in very uncomfortable ways, which made every single person in the audience squirm and/or fidget at some point during the movie. Director Todd Field has an eye for the intense unraveling of seemingly idyllic suburban life; domestic turmoil was also prevalent in his previous effort, In the Bedroom. The script is spot-on, which is no surprise given that the screenplay was by co-written by Tom Perrotta, who also wrote the brilliant Election. The tone and spirit of Little Children reminded me of American Beauty, which is another plus in my book.

It is no secret that Kate Winslet is one of my favorite actresses ever. I know I’m not the first person to assert that she should be nominated for Best Actress for her role in Little Children, nor will I be the only one to state that this is her best role yet. Winslet has already been nominated four times before the age of 30, an Academy Awards record. But she is simply extraordinary in this movie; one of the very fewwho can transform before our very eyes, with great success, from British movie star to drab American housewife. Above and beyond the dialect and dialogue, Winslet is all eyes and facial expression; every detail you need to know about her character lives there. This role was a daring and challenging choice, as Winslet’s character in the film is a far cry from Mother of the Year, in direct opposition to her real life as a happy young mom of two.

I’ve heard great reviews about Helen Mirren in The Queen, which I will see this weekend, but in my opinion Winslet gives the performance of the year and of her career in Little Children.

With all of the buzz about Winslet, I completely forgot that Jennifer Connelly was also in the movie. Her role is quite small in comparison, and could have been filled by an actress without a Best Supporting Actress statue, to be honest. In an interesting casting note, Jackie Earle Haley (the original Kelly Leak in 1976’s Bad News Bears and Moocher in 1979’s Breaking Away) makes a comeback of sorts in Little Children, playing a very pivotal and controversial character – a convicted sex offender. He also appeared in All the King’s Men last year, which is on my DVD rental list despite widespread critical panning.

Go see Little Children now, while it is still playing in limited release at theatres in major cities. Come Oscar time, you won’t regret it.